Let the Spirit Do the Work

Let our lives be a witness as we abide in Christ.

I usually try to make these daily write-ups something easily consumed in a couple of minutes. But honestly, it’s Saturday as I write this one, I’m in a bit of a mood, and this is a part of the gospel of John that’s just chewier than your daily nugget of heart-warming inspiration. You might say Jesus is “in the weeds” here. But it’s important stuff. So I’m suggesting that you wait until you have a few extra minutes to dwell on this passage. Feel free to “mark as unread” and do it later. :-)

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There’s a tension in how the Church understands its witness to the world. But it’s a tension that, if we listen to Jesus, doesn’t actually need to exist. I think we learn a bit about this in today’s passage.

So, the tension is that on the one hand, Jesus tells his disciples to go into the world preaching the good news. That is, this is an announcement for the world about the Kingdom of God: God is good, he has established goodness/righteousness/justice in a particular way for the world (seen in Jesus), and it is for all people, and indeed, all creation. It’s liberating, it’s loving, and it’s convicting of all that is opposed to love and righteousness.

On the other hand, knowing that there are opposing things to the Kingdom of God, many feel it our job to tell the world how bad it is. If we don’t tell them, how will they know? And so we get an effort from the Church that resonates with Jonathan Edwards and the like - Sinners in the hands of an angry God, etc. For sure, God hates sin.

But is this the message Jesus sent his disciples out with?

Conviction is necessary, but is it the Church’s job—or the Spirit’s?

There’s a lot going on in this longer passage today. But I’m focusing on a part that I’m not sure we deal with much at all and the main point for today is this: The Spirit is the one who convicts the world—our job is to abide in Christ and live by his Spirit.

John 15:26-16:16

“When the Companion comes, whom I will send from the Father—the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me. You will testify too, because you have been with me from the beginning.

I have said these things to you so that you won’t fall away. They will expel you from the synagogue. The time is coming when those who kill you will think that they are doing a service to God. They will do these things because they don’t know the Father or me. But I have said these things to you so that when their time comes, you will remember that I told you about them.

“I didn’t say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go away to the one who sent me. None of you ask me, ‘Where are you going?’ Yet because I have said these things to you, you are filled with sorrow. I assure you that it is better for you that I go away. If I don’t go away, the Companion won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will show the world it was wrong about sin, righteousness, and judgment. He will show the world it was wrong about sin because they don’t believe in me. He will show the world it was wrong about righteousness because I’m going to the Father and you won’t see me anymore. He will show the world it was wrong about judgment because this world’s ruler stands condemned.

“I have much more to say to you, but you can’t handle it now. However, when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you in all truth. He won’t speak on his own, but will say whatever he hears and will proclaim to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and proclaim it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine. That’s why I said that the Spirit takes what is mine and will proclaim it to you. Soon you won’t be able to see me; soon after that, you will see me.”

Psalm 25:4-5

Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth—teach it to me—because you are the God who saves me. I put my hope in you all day long.

Prayer

God,

You have not called me to control, but to abide. You have not asked me to convict, but to bear witness. Your Spirit moves where I cannot, speaks where I am not heard, and works in ways beyond my knowing.

So help me to not be a jerk.

Keep me faithful. Keep me in your love. Let my life reflect your truth, and let your Spirit do the work I cannot do.

By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.